Legislature to passes law to replace Nat'l Science Council

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed the so-called organic law to lay the groundwork for the new "department of technology," which will be taking the place of the National Science Council in March.

The newly established law alters the nature of the National Science Council, which originally served as a co-ordination unit, into a mission-based department that has clear directions to follow in the future, said National Science Council Minister Cyrus Chu (朱敬一). The technology department will be in charge of planning policies related to the nation's technology development, reviewing the budget slated for future developments and preparing to expand science parks in Taiwan.

"The National Science Council was originally in charge of communicating with other departments, including discussing industry-related issues with the Ministry of Economic Affairs; the new department of technology will be in charge of mainly technology-based projects," said Chu.

The new department will be in charge of the Hsinchu Science Park, Central Taiwan Science Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park, and will act in accordance with the Organic Act for the Establishment and Administration of Science Parks.

It will take from around eight weeks to two months of preparation for the department to be ready to operate, therefore the inauguration will be in March, said Chu.